Impact of Poverty on Infant Mortality in Lasbela, Balochistan: An Empirical Analysis

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the external socio-environmental elements that are linked to infant mortality. The research utilized analytical techniques that relied on multidimensional contingency tables in order to evaluate the comparative risks associated with infant mortality across various sub-populations. The models employed coefficient estimates by integrating birth and death data. It is noteworthy that the provision of hospital care throughout the neonatal period has been seen to alleviate the heightened risk faced by specific high-risk infants. Furthermore, the study revealed a correlation between elevated rates of infant mortality and individuals of lower socioeconomic positions, as well as those residing in rural regions. Nevertheless, a comprehensive analysis of individual-level characteristics and their influence on this correlation was not conducted. Examining this differentiation between contextual and individual factors carries substantial implications for implementing focused interventions. Hence, our objective is to ascertain the distinct impacts of poverty and urban-rural categorization on term infant mortality. Additionally, the research findings indicated that the newborn mortality rate in the Lasbela district surpassed that of the remaining districts in the Balochistan province. The collective results reveal that most women, specifically 66%, engage in employment activities while being pregnant. Among this group, 56% encounter complications throughout this gestational phase, while an equivalent proportion of 66% encounter medical issues.